Author : Lakshmi Rao, Singapore
From my childhood, whenever I got a chance, I used to visit Udupi Shri Krishna. I used to recite Vishnu Sahasra Naama since I was studying in the 8th grade. I was one among top 10 in school. In the 9th grade, I became the 3rd topper in school. In the 10th grade, I stood first, Top 1 rank in school. Later, I joined Poorna Prajna College at Udupi for Pre University Course and got a free seat in Engineering. After the final exam in engineering, I came back to our home at Udupi for the college holidays. At that time, I performed Neladalli Oota seva (taking food on the floor, without a plate or a plantain leaf) for 3 days at the Bhojana Shale in Udupi Krishna Matha. It followed by one day lunch on a banana leaf. In Engineering, I got 6th Rank for the university in final year. This is all because of Sri Krishna, Mukhyaprana Devaru and chanting Vishnu Sahasra Naama.
In 2003, I got married to a nice and good person residing at Singapore. When my son was born the umbilical cord was twisted around my son’s leg in the womb in such a way that one leg was bent forward and other leg backwards. Looking at that, instead of being happy and joyful upon arrival of our son, we were in tears. I was crying bitterly and my husband said “don’t worry, he will become a good sportsman”. All my wish was, if he is able to walk properly, that itself is a boon to me rather than dreaming of him becoming a good sportsman. I was laying in the delivery bed with my son and I prayed that I will do one week seva by tying coconut at Sode Vaadiraja Matha, chant Vishnu Sahasra Naama 10 times daily until he walks on his own and climb Tirupati betta carrying him and have darshana of Thimmappa.
For a 3 days old baby, the leg was operated and after one week, the doctor confirmed that his leg is fine. But I was not confident until he walked. From 2nd month post-delivery, I started chanting Vishnu Sahasra Naama daily 10 times on my son’s account. When my son was 6 month old, I came to my mother’s place who were residing in Bengaluru at that time. Me and my sister visited Sode Vaariraja Matha, had the darshana of Lord Hayagriva, Vaadirajaru and Bhootaraajaru. Few days afterour return I and my sister went to Tirupati. I borrowed a baby belt from my elder sister and carried my 6 month old baby and climbed the Tirupathi Hill. All the way I was praying that my son should be alright. Same day we had Timmappa darshana and returned to Bengaluru. My son was still not walking to this date.
Later I returned to Singapore. At around 10-11 months of age, my son started taking baby steps. I used to hold his hand and teach him to walk. Before my son became one year old, he started walking properly, running on his own etc without any aid. I was really joyful and my happiness has no end. I completed chanting 10 times Vishnu Sahasra Naama per day on my son’s account for one year.
When my son was 6 years old, I again came to my mother’s place at Udupi, went to Sode and performed one week seva at Sode Matha.
When my son was 9 years old, he was interested in playing soccer and joined a children Soccer League in Singapore. He used to practice soccer every week. They used to go for soccer matches with other teams in the country once in a while. In one such match, my son’s team won the game. To our surprise, in that match, my son scored two goals alone. The entire team got a medal for winning. At that moment, I remembered my husband’s words that our son will grow to be a sportsman. It came true with blessings of Hari Vaayu Gurugalu.
Wow! This experience gave me goosebumps; thank you for sharing this wonderful instance!